Admitted Undergraduate Students

Welcome to the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences!

Now that you’ve decided to study with us, it is time to work on getting your I-20 and securing your F-1 visa. Below is a step-by-step process on how this works, both for F-1 students and for transfer students who will remain on an F-1 visa.

For First-Year Undergraduate Students from China

Rutgers University is pleased to extend the ROSE Initiative (Rutgers Overseas Semester Experience) for the Fall 2021 semester. The ROSE Initiative was designed in 2020 for first-year undergraduate students from China whose ability to come to the United States to attend Rutgers was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ROSE program offers newly admitted first-semester Rutgers Chinese students (who hold Chinese citizenship) the opportunity to experience their first semester of Rutgers at a partner university campus in China. The ROSE program is a voluntary option for newly admitted first-year students who are unable to travel to New Jersey in light of visa, travel, or safety restrictions/concerns.

We recommend all students to apply for their visa regardless of their intended plan to enroll into ROSE. Having a visa will provide students with more options in the case that a ROSE program needs to be cancelled due to COVID-19 related issues.

For more information, please visit the ROSE Initiative website.

Important I-20 and Visa Information

Please follow the steps below to learn how to obtain your form I-20 and apply for your visa.

Accept your admission offer at your Rutgers Status before the Candidate’s Reply Date.
Complete the F-1 International Student Financial Statement (PDF). View a filled-out sample form (PDF).
1. You must submit proof of financial stability during your time at Rutgers from you or a sponsor. Acceptable proof of finances is a bank statement from a checking, savings, or time deposit account on bank letterhead in U.S. dollars. No other documents are acceptable. Account balances must show at least $52,000USD which must match your sponsor’s name. The statement must be from no earlier than 9 months before the start date of your first classes at Rutgers. You may submit this via email or fax to Undergraduate Admissions, and you must keep the originals for your visa interview.
Submit your financial documents, as indicated in the International Student Financial Statement.
Transfer students already studying in the U.S. must also submit the Rutgers International Student Adviser’s Report (ISAR) (PDF) to Rutgers Undergraduate Admissions which is a necessary part of the process to allow you to receive a new I-20 from Rutgers.

Additional Information for Transfer Students from another institution in the U.S.

You must notify your current international student adviser of your intention to enroll at Rutgers and also complete the transfer-out procedure at your current institution in order to transfer your Student and Exchange Visitor information System (SEVIS) record to Rutgers. Alert your adviser that the transfer code for Rutgers University-New Brunswick is: NEW214F00147002.

Once your ISAR has been received at Rutgers Undergraduate Admissions, you will be issued a “transfer pending” I-20. Upon arrival to Rutgers, check in online with Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services. Please check out the Newly Admitted Student page for more information.

*This process does not apply to 2+2 and dual-degree students.

Applying for your F-1 Visa

Once you receive your I-20 in the mail, you are able to start your application for the F-1 visa.

Set up an appointment with your local U.S. consulate or embassy and bring the appropriate documentation with you. Please see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website for more details. A list of embassies and consulates can be found at USEmbassy.gov.
Pay your I-901 SEVIS fee through the Department of Homeland Security. For this step, you will need your SEVIS ID which can be found on your I-20. You will need to bring confirmation of this payment with you to your visa appointment. It is important to save the receipt of this payment until you complete your program or receive your final degree. It is possible that you will need it again in the future.
Apply in person for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

Pre-Arrival Steps

Before you arrive on campus, there are a few tasks that must be done to prepare you for your first semester at SEBS. Remember to fully complete everything listed in your Enrollment Pathway! Your Enrollment Pathway has all the important information regarding your enrollment process including placement testing, course registration, housing and dining, financial aid, billing, and final transcripts.

Set up your Net ID and Email. This is a critical step to ensure that you are keeping up with all of the important information that faculty, staff, and other administrators like us will be sending you. You should get in the habit of using your Scartletmail account by checking it multiple times a day. You will need either your RUID or A-Number from Admissions in order to activate your account.
Complete your Immunization Forms.
1. It is a requirement by the state of New Jersey that all new students have certain immunizations before arriving on campus. You should have received the Pre-Entrance Immunization Packet (PDF) and relevant forms which can also be downloaded. More information on the required immunizations can be found at the office of Student Health’s information page for incoming students.
2. On the Rutgers Immunization Portal, you will be able to find and report the information needed to fulfill these requirements. Select Rutgers from the dropdown menu and then login with your Net ID and password.
3. You must complete your immunization forms by mid-July.
Map out your arrival to campus.
1. Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services has compiled a detailed document to help you map out any necessary pre-arrival preparations. Please view the Pre-departure checklist.
Take your placement exams. Before you enroll in any courses, you must take your online placement tests. These tests are designed to evaluate your skill levels so that you enroll in the appropriate courses in which you can succeed. The sooner you take your placement exams, the better chances you have of getting into the course sections that suit you and your schedule. More information can be found on this page.
Create your RGlobal Account, log in, and complete your data.
1. You may begin this process before you arrive in the United States; however, check-in must be completely upon your arrival as a legal requirement of your F-1 or J-1 status. You will need your Rutgers NetID and password to create your RGlobal account.
2. Access the check-in form under “Orientation” in the RGlobal portal. You can start entering your data before you arrive in the United States. Save a draft of the form to complete upon your arrival to the U.S.
Follow the below information according to your status as a first-year or transfer student.
1. First-year Students: Pre-registration Information Form. This is a web-based form that must be completed by all first-year SEBS students (incoming freshmen). Please note that this does not apply to transfer, 2+2, and 3+2 international students.
  1. Rutgers SEBS Academic Planning and Advising (APA). All first-year SEBS students must also attend an SEBS Academic Planning and Advising day. This will familiarize you with your degree requirements and assist you in selecting your first semester courses. Typically these take place on campus, but an exception is made for international students. In your SEBS First-Year Student Registration Information Form, you may select an “Alternate Arrangement” and request a virtual advising session.
  2. Once you select Alternate Advising, you will be contacted by the SEBS Office of Academic Programs regarding the advising procedures. This is the final step in your pre-registration process. Placement Tests in English and Mathematics must be completed by June 1st. Please reach out to first_year@sebs.rutgers.edu for additional information.
2. Transfer Student Advising Program. Register for the School’s Transfer Advising Program. Access to registration can be found in your Enrollment Pathway. This will be the start of your course registration process, so it is essential that you register. Please be sure to bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone so you will have access to the Schedule of Classes and Degree Navigator during your advising session.
  1. Request your official spring transcript as soon as it becomes available. If you are taking summer courses, do not wait for these to be completed before you submit your most recent transcripts. Summer transcripts can be submitted separately once those courses have finished.
  2. Send syllabi, if requested. Some of your transcript evaluations may require syllabi in order to transfer certain credits. Please review your transcript evaluation portal to know if you must complete this step. Once received, your syllabi will be reviewed by a faculty member. Please note that this process can take some time, so be sure to submit syllabi as soon as possible.
  3. Attend Transfer Advising Program and Orientation during International New Student Orientation in August. More updated information on specific dates can be found on the New Student Orientation and Family Programs website.

Post-Arrival Steps

Check in with Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services through RGlobal.
1. Checking in through RGlobal is essential for ensuring your legal status in the United States. To check in, you will need to scan and upload photos of your passport biographical page, visa page, and your I-20.
Join us for International Student Orientation Week at Rutgers! Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services organizes a mandatory week-long orientation for all new international students at Rutgers. Once you arrive on campus, Rutgers Global will be in touch with you regarding your immigration status, international student orientations, and other resources available to you as a new international student.
1. During orientation week you will get a chance to meet our office at the Resource Fair as well as the SEBS International Student Orientation.

Useful Tools for Incoming Students

Below is a list of websites, portals, and resources that you should become familiar with. These are tools that will help you acclimate to your new life as a student at Rutgers and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. You will be using many of them throughout your time here, so it is a good idea to get a head start before your arrival to campus.